December 7, 2025

The prelude is J.S.Bach's setting of the hymn "Savior of the nations, come", which is 54 in our hymnal; we are also singing the well known hymn during communion.  Words of the hymn, as you may note in the hymnal, are by Martin Luther.  I will play Bach's harmonization of the choral (or "hymn") before playing his famous setting of it.

The processional hymn is "Rejoice! rejoice, believers, and let your lights appear" (68), a great 19th century hymn.  We sometimes sing this tune with a different text, "O God of every  nation, of every race and creed" (607).  The Gospel hymn is a favorite -- "Comfort, comfort ye my people" (67), from way back in the 16th century.

Our anthem is one we sing almost every year at this time, "Prepare the Way of the Lord", by William Rowan, American contemporary (b. 1951), composer of many hymn tunes, choral and organ works. The text is Isaiah 40: 1-5.

Communion hymns are, as I mentioned earlier, 54, and also 76, the well known, "On Jordan's bank the Baptist's cry announces that the Lord is nigh". Closing, we will sing "Hark! a thrilling voice is sounding" (59), another great 19th century hymn.

The postlude is a setting of "Wachet auf" (hymn 61, which we sang last week), by the American composer, WIlbur Held (1915-2015-- yes, he was 100).  Among other studies, he was a pupil of Marcel Dupre, and was a sort ot "titan" in the world of church music.